News item | 20-12-2023 | 3:00 PM
From January 1, 2024, e-cigarettes with flavors such as tompouce, bubblegum or cherry may no longer be sold. The flavor ban is a government measure to prevent the rise of e-cigarettes (also known as e-cigarettes). vapes mentioned) especially among young users. Recent research by the Trimbos Institute showed that about 1 in 5 young people (12-25 years) have used vapes in the past year. Many young people who vape also smoke. Because sellers have had a year to adapt to the new rules, the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) will immediately start enforcing the flavor ban from January. Only e-cigarettes with a tobacco flavor may then be sold.
Weird sweet flavors
State Secretary Maarten van Ooijen (VWS): “We’ve been looking forward to this for a while, but from January 1, the sale of those strange sweet vape flavors will really come to an end. Flavors such as ‘unicorn vanilla’ or ‘rainbow lollipop’ are clearly not intended to help adult smokers get rid of their tobacco addiction, but are aimed at appealing to a new young target group. Vaping has quickly become something very normal for many young people and we really have to do something about it. Not just because vaping itself carries all kinds of health risks. But also because about 70% of vapers combine tobacco smoking with vapes. To bring that all-important smoke-free generation closer and protect the health of young people, it is essential that we do this.”
Enforcement and action
When monitoring compliance with the flavor ban by the NVWA from January, the focus will be as much as possible on the source, namely the companies that introduce e-cigarettes/vapes into the supply chain in the Netherlands. In addition to this supervision of producers, importers and distributors, there will also be inspections and action at physical sales points such as shops. Online sales of tobacco and e-cigarettes have been completely prohibited since July 1, 2023 and will be enforced as such.
When placing vapes on the market with flavors that do not meet the requirements of the Tobacco and Smoking Products Act – only tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes may still be sold – the NVWA will impose a fine of up to 4,500 euros. This amount is laid down in the Tobacco and Smoking Products Act. In addition, producers, importers and distributors can be ordered to withdraw the products from the market via a penalty payment (LOD). This means that they must pay a penalty for every time it is found that they do not comply with the imposed burden, such as recalling the vapes from the trade channel. The penalty is determined per company and can be many times higher than 4,500 euros.